Collection

Pensioners' Incomes statistics

Annual statistics about pensioners’ incomes

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
11 July 2013
Last updated
26 March 2026 — See all updates

This collection contains estimates of the levels, sources and distribution of pensioners’ incomes.

Next release date and key information

The next release of the PI statistics will be published in March 2027.

For further information on planned developments and methodological changes for this release, please see the Family Resources Survey: Release Strategy.

Changes within the latest release of the Pensioners’ Incomes (PI) statistics

The latest release of the Pensioners’ Incomes statistics was published on 26 March 2026.

Linking survey and administrative data

From the March 2026 publication, administrative data has been integrated into the FRS to replace survey responses for the major DWP and HMRC benefits. This will reduces under-reporting of benefits that is currently seen in the FRS (and therefore PI). The update applies from FYE 2019 and is implemented in two stages: publication of administrative linked, improved datasets and estimates for FYE 2022 to FYE 2024 in March 2026, and for FYE 2019 to FYE 2021 in summer 2026.

By summer 2026, an administrative linked PI time series will be available from FYE 2019 to FYE 2025 inclusive. This integration of administrative data impacts the proportion of benefit units on State Pension, disability benefits, and income-related benefits, as well as the average weekly amount, and thereby gross and net income. This will be seen in all years from FYE 2022 (in March 2026) and from FYE 2019 (in summer 2026). There is a structural break in the PI series at these points, and we advise users not to make a direct comparison of changes in income across the break. On relevant charts and tables, we have shown this as a break in the series with a dotted line and with relevant notes.   

While the integration has reduced under-reporting, some under and over-reporting will remain. A report explaining this improvement in more detail has been published.

Further detail can be found in the FRS background information and methodology document.

Find future pensioners’ incomes publication dates in our statistics release calendar and more about our statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Email pensioners-incomes@dwp.gov.uk with feedback and queries.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

Data on Stat-Xplore

Pensioners’ incomes (PI) data is available from financial year ending (FYE) 1995 to FYE 2025 on the Stat-Xplore online tool.

You can use Stat-Xplore to create your own pensioner’s incomes analysis. The pensioners’ incomes information is available at family (pensioner unit) level.

Read the user guide to pensioners’ incomes data on Stat-Xplore.

Feedback

We are seeking feedback from users on this release of pensioners’ incomes. Email pensioners-incomes@dwp.gov.uk with your comments.

Latest release

Release strategy

This release strategy acts as the formal notice of changes to any future releases of the pensioners’ incomes publication.

The strategy describes the potential release of new statistics within the publication and announces any other developments for future publications.

The pensioners’ incomes release strategy is not a static document; it will be updated as plans develop, to provide users with details of latest developments.

Background information and guidance

Access the underlying data used to produce the statistics through the UK data archive. Read guidance on accessing sensitive versions of the data.

Read a guide to sources of data on earnings and income as well as further information on income and earning statistics, both published by the Office for National Statistics.

Previous releases

Find archived pensioners’ income statistics on The National Archives website.

Updates to this page

Published 11 July 2013
Last updated 26 March 2026 show all updates

  1. Added latest release "Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 1995 to 2025" to the collection.

  2. Update to reflect the next release of the Pensioners' Incomes statistics that will be published on 26 March 2026.

  3. Added latest release "Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 1995 to 2024" to the collection.

  4. Added information to the page that the next release of Pensioners' Incomes statistics will be published on 27 March 2025.

  5. Latest release of Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 1995 to 2023 has been added to collection.

  6. Added information to the page about changes to the next release of the Pensioners' Incomes statistics The next release will be published on 21 March 2024.

  7. Latest release of Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 2021 to 2022 has been added to collection.

  8. Added a link to Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 2020 to 2021.

  9. Added a link to 'Pensioners’ Incomes Series: financial year 2019 to 2020'.

  10. Added a link to 'Pensioners' incomes series: financial year 2018 to 2019'.

  11. Note added about Pensioners’ Incomes Series data on the Stat-Xplore online tool.

  12. Added a link to 'Pensioners' incomes series: financial year 2016 to 2017'.

  13. Added 'Pensioners' incomes series: financial year 2016/17'.

  14. Added 'Pensioners’ incomes series: financial year 2015/16'.

  15. Published a statistical notice about a change in methodology for the PI report, to take effect for the 2015/16 publication.

  16. Added 'Pensioners’ incomes series: financial year 2014/15'.

  17. Published revision note for Pensioners’ Incomes Series publications for the years 2012/13 and 2013/14.

  18. Published 'Pensioners’ incomes series: financial year 2013/14'.

  19. Published Pensioners' Income Series statistics for 2012 to 2013.

  20. Published next release date for these statistics (1 July 2014).

  21. First published.

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